Rova of Antananarivo, Royal palace complex on Analamanga hill, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal palace complex on top of Analamanga hill in Madagascar's capital. The buildings combine stone walls with wooden elements and show different construction phases through a mix of traditional Malagasy and European features.

King Andrianjaka seized Analamanga from the Vazimba around 1610 and built the first fortified royal structure there. His successors ruled from the site through the 17th and 18th centuries, and the 19th-century kings and queens of Madagascar kept it as their residence. The monarchy was abolished with the French annexation in 1896, ending nearly three centuries of royal use.

The Protestant chapel built in the second half of the 19th century shows the influence of Christian missionaries on the Merina monarchy, which had previously followed animist traditions. The royal tombs on the grounds remain important places for ritual veneration and are considered sacred by many Malagasy people today.

Guided tours of the site provide access to the restored buildings and offer explanations about the use of different rooms and structures. The climb up the hill requires some physical fitness as the path can be steep.

A devastating fire in 1995 destroyed large parts of the Manjakamiadana building and many historical artifacts, leading to extensive restoration work. The stone casing added by British architect James Cameron in 1867 was a technical novelty in Madagascar at the time and fundamentally changed the appearance of the royal residence.